It's a Queen butterfly, Danaus gilippus, another butterfly that lays eggs on Milkweed. I've seen them before, but I think this is the first time I've been able to photograph one.
We're expecting a freeze tomorrow night so of course I'm worried about them, and also the chrysalis on the fence that I posted about last week. I've put some bamboo poles in the ground around the Milkweed plant and will throw a blanket over them tomorrow. Hopefully that will provide enough protection from frost so the caterpillars don't all die.
But I think other than that, I'll have to let Mother Nature take its course.
Words and photographs by Jayne Wilson, Green and Serene, Jayne's Country Garden.
When we were in Big Bend National Park back in November, Queens were everywhere. I was really surprised to see so many of them there. But, you know, I haven't seen a single one in my garden this fall. Very unusual. I almost always have a few, but not this year. Congratulations on yours.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dorothy. I'm glad I was able to snap a photo. I'm thinking it probably didn't fare too well in the freezes we've had the last couple of nights.
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